Mia donates K1.2m, food stuffs to Muslims for Ramadan

Malawi’s governing Peoples Party (PP) Vice President Sidik Muhammad Mia has urged Muslims in the country to ensure that their children attend Madrassah (Islamic school) and effectively learn the teachings of Islamic as they impact on the future survival of their religion.

He was speaking on Friday when he donated 300 hampers of assorted food stuffs and cash worth over K1.2million to brothers and sisters of the Muslim community in the area of Senior Chief Kadewere in Chiradzulu district as one way of keeping up the ancient Islamic tradition of assisting needy Muslims during the holy month Ramadan.

The hampers benefitted families from seven mosques out of the 17 which are found in Chief Kadewere’s the area.

However, Mia said concentrating on Islamic religion alone could not give an assurance of perfect continuity of the religion unless the children also go to school.

Mia presents the donation

“Times are changing, we are no longer living in the past when academic religion did not matter. You must, therefore, realise the importance of sending the children to school where they can acquire academic knowledge and with that weapon our children will be able to efficiently carry Islam to the far future,” he told scores of Muslims who gathered at Kadewere Mosque.

Kadewere Mosque was built in 1956 and has a historical value in Malawi for being the second to be built and Mia, who is also vice chairperson of the Muslim Association of Malawi Board of Trustees, pledged to renovate it. The first mosque in the country was built in Zomba way before 1956.

Mia also promised to re-build the Madrassah at the mosque which is in a complete dilapidated condition.

He also committed to provide a monthly salary for the Madrassah teacher and also create a revolving fund for the Islamic women to help them boost their economic stance.

Mia, who is also Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, then urged his fellow Muslims to remain united and be committed to their faith during this holy month of Ramadan.

He said during the month of Ramadan, every Muslim with the capacity to share had an obligation to remember fellow needy Muslims especially those who can hardly source food to take when breaking the fasting.

In his remarks, Senior Chief Kadewere, a Muslim himself, said he was appreciative to the minister for choosing to assist their mosque.

Senior Chief Kadewere has 17 mosques with a population of over 10 000 Muslims.